adventures of a ginger

2011-11-01T14:56:00.003-05:00

HAPPY NOVEMBER from our little multi-cultural "family"! (L-R: YoungMi, Me, Beth, InHye)
Anybody else having trouble believing it's already November? I'm sorry it's been such a long time since my last post. The past month included, but was not limited to...

-A boat-load of relationship-building (my favorite!) - with church members, elderly, teens, members of the community, even deepening those within our team.
-A "seminar week" back at base during which we learned more in-depth about topics such as apologetics and ethnocentrism, presented cultural projects we did about each of our respective teams, and caught up with members of the other teams.
-Planning, Praying, Discussing, Ministry, then more planning, more praying, more discussing & more ministry...phew!
-Korean lessons: cooking, language, customs - you name it, I'm learning about it!

(YoungMi: after teaching me how to make my new favorite Korean dish - Tteokboki...SO good!)

Aside from the "logistics" of what's been going on, the Lord has been stretching me to new extremes. I have had to learn in new ways - sometimes the hard way - how to rely on Him alone, how to lay things at His feet instead of taking them on as burdens, how to rest in Him...the list really goes on...and on...and on. Whatever I'm being taught at any given moment, I am sincerely thankful that this is a relationship rather than a one-sided worshipping of a seemingly-unattainable "higher being." I think I would give up entirely if I did not know and trust that God listens to me, walks beside me and even carries me through the most difficult of times.
All of that said - I think I set myself up for difficulty by going an entire month without posting...I know with all that my heart and mind have been taught, I cannot possibly share it all on here. In light of that, I will share with you one thing which really stuck out to me:

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," -1 Peter 3:15

I will admit that back at home in the "Bible belt," with friends who share my beliefs, I am rarely challenged to act out this passage in my own life. In the context I'm in now, however, my faith and beliefs could be challenged at any given moment. I am so thankful for this opportunity to not dwell in my own safe bubble, but to really own what I believe and why I believe it! I know that some who even read this do not agree with or understand "the reason for the hope that [I] have," but I am glad to say that I'm ready to give an answer to any and all who ask! It's easier to be bold when in a foreign country with the purpose of sharing my faith...however it really is my prayer that my heart's desire is to display and give an answer for my faith in my own city and culture as well! I love the end of this verse..."But do this with gentleness and respect." I am so sad to say that this is not often displayed in interactions between believers and non-believers...this is something I've had to realize is due to the fact that although we serve a perfect God, we are not perfect, but are in fact hugely flawed! This is not an excuse, but something many have brought to my attention even in moments here in which I've shared my beliefs with others...I sincerely hope that I can remember the need to "give an answer to everyone who asks" in a gentle and respectful way regardless of how the person I'm speaking to feels about the faith and beliefs I claim. I hope this can become more and more natural to me here and will translate as I make the move back home eventually. Well folks, this concludes yet another installment of "word vomit by Courtney"...just kidding! But really, I am thankful for those who take a genuine interest in the process that is taking place here and the work the Lord is doing in England, as well as in my own heart. I covet your prayers and hope you know you all are in mine.

"Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me"

2011-10-04T05:40:00.002-05:00

"Such is the confidence we have through Christ toward God.

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as

coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God"

-2 Corinthians 3:4-5-

I can't believe it's already October! The other day somebody was lamenting the fact that I would be "leaving soon" and it threw me off completely - however, in the grand scheme of things, they're right! I'll only be here for just over 10 more weeks, which as we all know, flies by before we even blink an eye! That said, it also feels like things are just beginning as so much has changed since my last post...

Oh where to begin??
My adventure has now landed me in a new city in a flat with three girls from OM and working side-by-side with a Baptist Evangelical church in the neighborhood. Our team church is so vastly different from my home church, but it's refreshing to see God equally alive and at work in such a different environment! The church has around 100 members who all know each other by name, some younger/middle-age families, but mostly elderly people, and nearly every person I encounter unwittingly battles for the title of "most genuinely sweet person I've ever met."
Our ministry options are all over the spectrum, from elderly lunch/fellowship group to teen outreach, a free coffee & biscuits ministry outside of the primary school, prayer meetings, English-learning club...you name it, we'll probably have our foot in it! The challenge there of course is to learn what takes priority so we can truly invest instead of spreading ourselves too thin. Our prayer is that God would be working through us to reach the people of this city whenever we step foot out our front door and in whatever ministry He sets before us - incredibly humbling, as we know this certainly doesn't come from our own abilities or strength!!

The Lord has been teaching me daily of His faithfulness...He's been revealing it to me in everything from conversations with strangers to ministries beginning to take shape as well as encouragement from the church body. What's even more exciting to me though is that He's revealing His faithfulness to me in the small things...the fact that He's given me three incredible roommates, the safety He blesses us with everytime I sit behind the wheel of a car(trust me, that's a big one haha), beautiful days or even blessed conversations with friends or family back home. It's been amazing to sit back and have His faithfulness revealed to me in this new way and I want to encourage you all to do the same! Even if it seems you can't see Him moving in big ways, look for His faithfulness to you in the everyday things: companionship He's given you, a job, a peaceful morning with a cup of coffee...His delight in us and His faithfulness to us shows up in even the little things and He is worthy to be praised for all of it, big or small!

Thank you for your continued support as I continue to learn, grow and face what the Lord has for me day by day on this adventure!

A Necessity of the Human Spirit

2011-09-22T17:05:00.005-05:00

(source)

If you told me a few months ago that in September I would be driving through the Welsh countryside, hiking the biggest mountain in the country and feeling simultaneously the most exhausted and most exhilerated I've ever been, I probably would've said something along the lines of "do you even know me??"

You see, I like to talk about adventure, growth and "living life to the fullest," but as a creature of comfort, I've always tried to find ways to do these things while still staying relatively safe. What I've learned over the past few weeks, especially last week, is that it can't be done. If you want adventure and exhileration you must be pushed, prodded and at times shoved out of the proverbial "plane" because how else will you know that your parachute works, the rush that comes after the jump, and the feeling of accomplishment when you land safely on the ground?

The Lord has never been so real, so evident in His creation and so obvious in how much I need Him as during our team's "adventure week" in Wales. I felt mentally and physically exhausted (not to mention paranoid, as I knew our leaders were watching our every move to figure out who fell into what type of team-role, how we handle pressure, etc.), but the incredible part about feeling completely unable to rely on your own strength is that you have no choice but to rely on God's!

Being in the wilderness last week, with others as well as alone with the Lord, was absolutely a necessity for me. I know those are moments I will never forget, encounters with the Lord that will forever affect how I see/communicate with Him, and growth that has probably (hopefully) changed me as a person.

I agree with what Edward Abbey said and encourage all of you - if you haven't experienced your "wilderness" yet, whether it be mental, physical, what-have-you - find it. Seek it. Don't fear what your heart and spirit need - jump out of your "plane," whatever it may be, and as helpless as it feels at times, try to enjoy it. You'll see so much more fruit in that one moment than you did during millions of "safe" moments and, hopefully, God will be glorified in the process!!

As He Pleases...

2011-09-11T03:49:00.005-05:00

This past week has been full of learning and growth.

I have been pushed, pulled, challenged and realized how important it is to allow those things to occur instead of staying comfortable.

We have had 5 days of seminars, learning about everything from "Testimony as a Gospel Tool" to "Muslim Culture" and "Kids Training." We also each visited a different church with an OM staff member and had lunch with complete strangers (mine was a 15-member church...SUCH a change from my 3,000+ member church back home!) Every experience has put me out of my comfort zone, some more than others, and as much as the Courtney you all know would typically avoid these types of situations altogether, I'm growing increasingly grateful for squirm-inducing moments...it's quickly become my firm belief that it is the uncomfortable that produces change.

The most important thing the Lord taught me this week, however, actually has very little to do with the seminars I've been in but has shown up everywhere else and yet it still took me until lastnight for it to finally sink in...

"Our God is in the heavens;

He does all that He pleases."

-Psalm 115:3

God is sovereign over all and I am realizing how clearly that is seen in my life. Every detail of my life is because He determined it: where I was born, when I was born, the events of the past year of my life, the fact that I am here right now...all happened because. He. said.

No accidents...nothing surprised Him...all of it was His divine will.

People all around me have been telling stories of how their brothers, friends, churches, etc. were involved with OM and that was how they ended up here...it never even occurred to me amidst all of this that I'm here because my roommate gave me a book which mentioned OM's website...and that's it. That's not an understatement... that OM is involved in worldwide ministry is in fact all that I knew of this organization and something (ahem, Someone...) made me visit the website and apply for this program days later. Wow.

So what that means to me is He put me in this city with these people at this time for His purpose, not because He needs me, but because He is gracious enough to be willing to use me.

The Father has placed me, you, every individual exactly where they are at this time for a very specific purpose. So as I am learning to live in that, I would encourage you to do the same...we may not know or understand why we are where we are, but that's not what matters! Because the sovereign Creator of the Universe knows exactly what He's doing and why and that should be more than good enough reason for us to walk in trust and faith of His master plan.

The beginning...

2011-09-03T05:33:00.002-05:00

Well...here I am! I'm sitting in the "lounge" with one of our leaders, thanking God for the awesome gift of technology. It's pretty amazing to me that I can sit on my bunkbed and read emails from friends/family before falling asleep (on my phone no less!), post blogs, check twitter, etc. It's good to feel like I still have some idea what's going on back home even though I'm 1000+ miles away.

Travels went smoothly, and I arrived in Birmingham at 10:45 on Friday morning to the smiling face of Atonya, one of the staff members here. On our way to base I quickly got to know her open heart, and passion for sharing the Gospel with people - something I hope to learn from! Since arriving here I've settled into my room, explored the town on foot, eaten meals, enjoyed community, etc. Only 3 of the 12 people on my team are here - the rest arrive today - so it's been good getting to know each other before the craziness begins! There's another team of 10 English-learners also here for the same amount of time as us so it's been really exciting getting to talk to them about the different cultures they come from, etc.

I'm not going to lie - I was so proud of my lack of nerves/homesickness, probably too proud because the Lord quickly humbled me after I got here. It wasn't until my roommate (and fellow-American) expressed her homesickness that I suddenly wanted to cry and jump back on a plane home! Thankfully the Lord is the ultimate comforter and He loves to show us that He is more than enough. Although I love my friends and family and the comfort of home, those are not necessities in order for me to feel joy and comfort. I met a guy who has been serving here for a year and as I remarked on how long that was, he said "no, it feels quite short" - instant perspective! Yes, I am at the very beginning of what feels like will be a LONG 4 months, but I know in reality how quickly that time goes...I'm hoping to soak up every minute instead of longing for the day I'll be on a plane home. Yes, I miss my friends and family, but they will still be right where I left them come December. In the meantime, I'm going to welcome this chance for the Lord to grow and challenge me. Today, I'm choosing to dwell on the truth of Isaiah 41:10:

"I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Amen!!

First Things First

2011-08-07T09:40:00.002-05:00

Lately I've experienced a great deal of mental tossing & turning, much like my sleep-life, unfortunately...

Thinking about the 4 months to come has me giddy, anxious and admittedly terrified (I'd rather keep that one under wraps, but let's just go with honesty for now). I'll be encountering the unknown from the moment I board my flight from DC to London...that airport will be the last scrap of anything familiar to me. And while I feel exhilerated by this thought, I simultaneously want to crawl into my bed with a certain giant stuffed monkey (which I'm not ashamed to admit still plays a large role in my aforementioned sleep-life) and not come out...ever.

Whle this range of emotions is expected and completely understandable, the one thing I'm battling that I genuinely don't want to take up residence in my mind is the inability to live in the present.
Because I'm leaving the country I'm having to make plans for when I return - nothing concrete, but certainly heading in that direction. This is causing me to look forward to December 21st more than I would hope to. My desire to jump to that specific date is not only so I can begin whatever my new life will look like, but also because I know how much transformation will take place while I'm away...I'm anxious to know who the Lord will shape me to be, what He'll do in my heart, etc.

Despite this tendency to look ahead, I'm trying to harness those thoughts and be in the present moment. This has manifested itself in so many ways, some I didn't expect. From simply soaking up these next few weeks with my sweet friends in my beloved Nashville...to trying to no longer dwell on the frustrations of being a 22 year old living my parents' home...to accepting different relationships as they are at present - not in a negative light or even a hopeful light for that matter, but just as they are.
Speaking of hopeful, I'm hopeful that despite my moments of mental time-travel I will be able to just be...to breathe deep, love well, and accept things as they are at this very moment.

As I've said to a couple people who have witnessed this tendency in me - and more importantly, to myself - first things first.

These are a few of my favorite...shows

2011-08-06T11:02:00.006-05:00

Last week I had the amazing gift of seeing one of my favorite artists at one of my favorite venues. Bon Iver...at the Ryman. Be still my heart.

I don't think I can really explain how or why (and whenever I try I end up sounding crazy), but Justin Vernon's music evokes an emotional reaction in me unlike any other artist I've heard. It's haunting yet bright, stunningly beautiful and even sad at times.

Maybe it's because so many distinct moments of my life are forever attached in my mind to his songs or it's simply due to his absurd amount of musical talents...either way, I found myself so wrapped up in the show that it sped by and before I knew it I was in the middle of the encore wishing it would never end (that hardly ever happens to me).

But I'm not going to ramble on about this forever because you either a) already know exactly what I mean or b) could easily listen to his music and quickly decide for yourselves whether you agree with me or think I'm out of my mind.

Leaving the Ryman that night I found myself repeatedly telling others that it was my "favorite show I'd ever been to." Which got me thinking...I've been lucky enough to see some pretty great stuff! So I decided to write a list of the top shows I've seen...some fantastic ones have undoubtedly gone forgotten and I'll kick myself in an hour when I remember them, but here it is anyway!

Top 10 (wait...11) Shows I've Seen

1. Bon Iver at The Ryman - July 2011

2. The Local Natives at Cannery Ballroom - October 2010

3. The Swell Season at The Ryman - May 2010

4. Fleet Foxes at The Ryman - May 2011

5. Ray LaMontagne at Chastain Park - August 2010

6. Sleeping At Last at Lincoln Hall - February 2010

7. Dear and the Headlights at Exit/In - October 2009

8. Andrew Bird at Austin City Limits - October 2009

9. She & Him at The Ryman - September 2010

10. The Local Natives at The Muse - January 2009

11. The Civil Wars at Grimey's In-Store - February 2011

Honorable Mentions: Ben Sollee at Grimey's In-Store, Coldplay at Bridgestone Arena, Avett Brothers at Austin City Limits, Kings of Leon at the Ryman, John Legend at ACL, and every Delta Saints show I've ever been to...

Hopeful List-Additions: Mumford & Sons, Sufjan Stevens, MORE Bon Iver!, Radiohead, Sigur Ros (or Jonsi), Adele, Maclean, Laura Marling, James Vincent McMorrow, Patrick Watson

Attempting a Graceful Explanation

2011-06-01T14:54:00.003-05:00

Friends and Family:

I have news!! I have chosen to take part in a mission trip to Northern England with Operation Mobilization and will be gone from September through December 21.
You may ask: Wait...what? How did this come about? Why OM? Why England?

Well here is my attempt at a graceful explanation of the goings-on in my heart that led to this decision…

My life plans post-college have always been a blurry, vague, confusing vision...I don't feel called to apply my degree in the pursuit of a career in nutrition just yet, but that wouldn't necessarily automatically lead me here...however the Lord is always sure to guide, even when I don't realize it. Cue Matthew 28:19-20 and Psalm 27:4:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” –Matt. 28:19-20

“One thing have I asked of the Lord that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” –Psalm 27:4

I have always known that this world is not my ultimate home…it is a constant feeling of longing in my heart for something beyond this that reminds me of this truth. I was made to be on earth to bring glory to the Lord until He chooses to take me home. However, it wasn’t until more recently that the Lord really stripped my life of the things that make me comfortable here on earth and instilled in my heart a desire to have a heart like David’s in Psalm 27:4…a heart that longs only to be in the presence of the Lord and marvel at His beauty! It was with this heart transformation that I knew I desired to pursue Kingdom-related matters…to become grounded in that first and foremost before falling prey to my tendency to find a definition for myself in careers, relationships, etc. Before I “settled down” I wanted the Lord to turn my world upside down and be challenged to share the truth and hope of the gospel with others, like I'm commanded to in Matthew 28:19-20.

So here comes the rabbit trail that led me to this specific trip: my amazing roommate bought me a Christmas gift this past year which is a book called Operation World - a comprehensive prayer guide to the entire world which leads readers in needs-specific prayer for the world over the course of a year. I had been considering a trip with a well-known organization called YWAM which many friends had participated in, but after several months in this book I noticed that whenever the book mentioned the work of YWAM it almost always also mentioned something called OM. One day while stranded in Murfreesboro at school, I wandered into the library (a sadly rare occurrence) and while researching YWAM trips I decided on a whim to look into this OM thing...

Talk about a moment of clarity! I came across a trip called Lifehope Autumn and knew immediately that I wanted to apply for it...after spending months agonizing over where/if I was supposed to apply for YWAM, it took me less than a week to complete my application for the OM trip, turn in my deposit, and have my references sent in from church leaders. I had complete peace about this choice, and knew it was where I was supposed to be.

As for England, my choice for traveling there is quite simple – I have had a desire to go there for years now. I hadn’t even been there before until this past March when I spent a brief day and a half in London, but for some reason I’ve always felt drawn there.

So here I am! Addressing support letters, researching flights, applying for a visa…it’s all quite surreal at this point, but before I know it it’ll be September 1st and I will be on a plane to meet my team and 4-month-long family, none of whom I know. I am ecstatic, apprehensive, overjoyed and scared all at the same time. I can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do in and through me and how He is going to choose to grow, stretch & challenge me. I’ll be recording it all here on this blog for you, my wonderful friends and family, to read. Hopefully you can use it as a means to guide you in how to pray for me, because heaven knows I’ll need it!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this novel of a blog post, for loving me constantly through actions and words and for supporting me over the years.

2011-05-28T09:26:00.002-05:00

It’s been quite some time since I visited this sweet little blog and graced its “pages” with my stunning photography and complex musings about life & other things…(insert sarcasm here).
Regardless of how much (or little) I have been missed, I thought I might as well regale the blog kingdom with tales of where/what I’ve been up to:

I’ve spent early mornings in thought and prayer here…

Enjoyed some of these and some even more delicious music with my sister…

(seeing Fleet Foxes at the Ryman)

Found a great deal of comfort in this…

(Psalm 94)

And, truth be told, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my boyfriend.
We take long walks together…
I feed him spoonfuls of delicious food…
We dance to James Vincent McMorrow in the living room…
And he smothers me with love and affection…

Oh! Sorry, did I forget to mention he’s 6 months old?
Insignificant details, people…

"I Want to Go to There!"

2011-01-08T10:58:00.004-06:00

With the impending completion of my undergraduate degree in just 7 months, the adventures of this ginger are about to increase exponentially and transform from local/minor adventures of spontaneity and creativity to (hopefully) big-time travel!!

(credit)

I'll be the first to admit that I won't be sure of this until plans are set in stone and my hiney is on a plane - the Lord has been faithful to show me one thing throughout my entire life: His plans are different than mine! But in hopes that His plans and mine align for this next phase of my life, I have been stumbling upon (literally) some gorgeous pictures of this huge world we live in, which have only fueled my heart's desire for some serious upcoming adventures.

So what happens from here? I guess only time will tell! But I'm beyond excited about what the future may bring...

(credit)

Extinction & other reasons...

2010-11-03T22:38:00.004-05:00

"...Herman slipped his hand into mine, and I thought, an average of seventy-four

species become extinct every day, which was one good reason but not the only

one to hold someone's hand," -Alma Singer, The History of Love

Reading is one of those things that I wish I did more often and find I do far too little. By some miracle (probably due to the fact that I read instead of doing school) I finished a book today. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss is absolutely beautiful. There are SO many good books out there that it's hard for me to tell you to stop what you're doing and go read this right now, but it definitely needs to be on your list...it is a beautifully told story and manages to somehow weave together the tales of three distinctly different characters whose lives manage to intertwine by the end. Just beautiful.

Now on to the next! Trying to decide between The Alchemist & By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept...

All that to say, go read a book...it feels good.

Growing pains...

2010-10-07T01:14:00.003-05:00

Oh…my…goodness, growth is hard. I cannot even begin to express how many times in the past couple months I have found myself talking about the fact that when asking the Lord for teaching and growth, it will NOT be easy. In fact, it’s quite the opposite of easy.

But it’s so appropriate that in the very phase of your life in which you have reoccurring days where you feel you have come to the very end of yourself, you have this amazing joy to be found in the fact that you feel this way because the Lord is changing and growing you...

I am not stagnant! Praise God!

I spent a bit of time this summer feeling completely unmoved and unreached by the Lord…these “dry spells” are the absolute worst…I’ll pass, no thank you. But then of course when I ask Him to work in my life, I feel the growing pains and complain about that too! Will I ever stop my whining? Even though I feel as though I’m asking the Lord for strength every ten minutes, I am overwhelmingly grateful that I can feel the Lord moving me, teaching me, growing me. I absolutely refuse to go through the hard stuff and come out on the other end looking, feeling, acting the same. I refuse to be the same person. Working through the difficult things will not be in vain! I am so blessed to have a God who gives me enough strength for each day…it reminds me of the story of the Israelites wandering through the desert in Exodus…they whined for food and the Lord provided…but only enough for each day. This way they had to rely on Him each morning when they woke up to provide again. When they tried to hoard food, He literally rotted and melted it away! He gave them exactly what they needed for that time period and made sure they had to rely on Him in the same way the very next day. I have seen this in my own life – every morning the first thought in my mind has to be surrender and relying on Him for my strength for the day. And He always provides! Each day concludes with me lying down to rest with the last bit of strength He has given me, and then it starts afresh in the morning. He has certainly taught me the very essence of needing Him and relying on Him.

So today, I encourage you…
If you are feeling growing pains, embrace them! It hurts, yes, but the end result will be a stronger more mature child of God.
If you are feeling stagnant, pray for growth! My aforementioned words may not make you jump at the chance to feel pain or challenges, but nobody wants to stay in the same place forever.
If you are enjoying a time in the clear when you have seen the fruits of the Lord’s work in your life and are able to experience some peace, relish it! And keep pursuing Him…just don’t let yourself revert back to who you were before…let the growth produce a lasting change!

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

ensemble of stallions

2010-10-04T22:00:00.004-05:00

thursday.
these boys are coming to visit me!!

one of nashville's most wonderful traditions is "live on the green"...perfect way to celebrate the emerging chilly weather and enjoy some great music.

(did i mention it's FREE??!!)

this week our ears will get to enjoy the loveliness that is band of horses. thank you nashville!

he looks like such a hillbilly when he sings, but it's oh so endearing.

I need a...

2010-09-23T23:07:00.005-05:00

...vacation.
Feel like I've been going nonstop for this entire month and I just want to go somewhere that's not here (Portland, anyone??) and be a bum and explore and eat good food and drink good coffee
and not work and not do school.
Is that too much to ask? Probably....dangit.

In other news, I have been enlisted to help with the dessert bar for the wedding of two of my closest friends in May (!!) so I've been going crazy looking at things like this...

This blogger does many other precious things. Like these feather cookies...
grand.
(also a bridesmaid!! - check out the fantastic dress we get to wear!)

It's my goal to learn to compartmentalize my life so I can still do
fun and spontaneous things without worrying about work and school.
Let's hope it can work!

Happy Sunday.

p.s. I have a surprise for next time...and its name is Higgins...

randomness of mind

2010-08-25T12:43:00.008-05:00

[source]

(To dare every day to be irreverent and bold. To dare to preserve the randomness of mind which in children produces strange and wonderful new thoughts and forms. To continually scramble the familiar and bring the old into new juxtaposition.) - Gordon Webber

+ i want to go to Colorado. how have i never been there?

+so much to do: move. throw engagement party. work. birthday parties. and yet i'd rather read this...all day long.

+ let's have a dance party. i need a dance party.

+ 4 veggie burgers in 2 days. is this a problem?

+ i'd give anything to be back at Chastain Park listening to Ray Lamontagne serenade me all night. please.

+flea market & farmer's market this weekend? yes please!

finally, the two above are precious and their save-the-date was equally so. check it out.

Save the date! 31 july 2010 from Kishi-Grover on Vimeo.

le bébé singe

2010-08-21T13:06:00.000-05:00

my heart melts every. time.

Ragged Wood

2010-08-21T12:28:00.003-05:00

The amount of time that I spent cleaning my car out in the sweltering heat today made me even more anxious for fall! Everything in me revolts against heat...

I hate sweating
I prefer gray days over sunny ones
I love scarves, tights and hats
I prefer hot coffee over iced

Sitting by a fireplace with a book & a cup of tea = glorious
...oh yeah, and who can forget that fall is just plain beautiful?!

(How can anyone possibly question whether there is a Creator when

there is such beautiful creation to behold?)

So, in honor of the impending autumn, go listen to Fleet Foxes, put on a scarf & dance around (even if the heat will allow for a scarf and a scarf only...)

Muffins and Musings

2010-08-14T10:13:00.004-05:00

My job is a dream – baking cakes, cookies and muffins all day long with my iPod faithfully providing whatever soundtrack I choose for the day.

(Nevermind the dishwashing and mopping…I pretend those parts don’t actually exist).

The most interesting aspect of my job, however is not how many Beets are in the Beet muffins or how long we bake a cake for, but the fact that you have 6 hours at a time of uninterrupted thinking. Being in your mind for that long can be dangerous – I’ve been told that one girl actually quit because it was “too much time to think” – but I’ve grown to appreciate it more than anything. Something that has been on the forefront of my mind for quite some time is the concept of love and its image verses its truth and reality. My boss and I got on the subject and both agreed that a wonderfully realistic, although overused and underappreciated view on love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. When you actually read the words for what they are, it changes entirely. It transforms into a painfully real picture of what love is supposed to look like in contrast to the way we often picture it in our idealistic minds.
It does not say:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is perfect, love is sunshine and happiness. Love is never annoyed, never frustrated, always easy.”

Surprise! Love is not what it seems to be from the outside looking in. Is it wonderful? Is it a gift? Absolutely! But it is also a daily choice - another nugget of wisdom from my boss. Love is not easy, but those who have committed to love one another wake up every day and choose to love that person. “It is not self-seeking”…shoot! “It is not proud”…dangit. It is patient, hopeful, and it “always perseveres.” Upon reading these words I saw how much I fall short. If it were a checklist, the result would be dismal…

□ Patient
□ Kind
□ Is not envious
□ Is not boastful
□ Is not proud
□ Is not rude
□ Is not self-seeking
□ Is not easily angered
…you get the picture.

Maybe I’m the only one who needed to come to the realization that love is not perfect or easy, but let me tell you it changes everything. This verse gives us a difficult standard to uphold, but I believe it's the aspiration and attempt to emulate it that counts. If we all made the daily choice to aspire to love in the way 1 Corinthians tells us to, our relationships would certainly look quite different. Whether you’re loving your husband, girlfriend, family, friends, there are many people to whom we say “I love you,” but very rarely do we even attempt for it to look like it should. Above all else, it makes me so thankful for the love lavished on us by our Savior. Our declared love for others may fall short, but His is everything in this verse and more. His love is perfect.

In the light of this newfound reality, 1 Corinthians takes on a whole new meaning. Read it today with new eyes.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Also, this...

lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless.

2010-08-11T13:44:00.003-05:00

Alone.
Sounds lonely, right?
It always surprises me how afraid people are to do things on their own.
Some are understandable: eating out, shopping.
Others are slightly absurd: doctor's visits or hair appointments.

I enjoy being around people, especially those I love.
I like having company at a coffee shop or a hand to hold at the grocery store. These are all good things.
But I find that it feeds my independence in such a lovely way when I do things on my own. Being forced into this mindset may have jumpstarted it (stuck in Boro on school breaks or visiting random cities), but I have grown to cherish stopping at a coffee shop to read by myself, getting pedicures on my own, or even going to a movie without a companion (yep! I'm proud to say, I've done it). Sometimes you need to breathe, be with yourself, hear yourself think. I found this video and wanted to share it and encourage any and everyone to be alone every once in awhile. Don't be afraid of it. I'm convinced it's good for your heart.

Ants in my Pants

2010-07-25T10:36:00.008-05:00

It's been awhile since my last post...and when I think of all that has happened since December, it seems that much longer. However, I find it to be a good sign when one has no time to write about living life because they are too busy living life.

So what have I been doing as of late?

Reading, reading, and reading
Baking to my heart's content at my favorite Nashville coffee joint
Jumping off of cliffs...no, really...
Loving, loving and loving the amazing people in my life.

Another thing that has been almost annoyingly present lately are the ants in my pants that I've been battling. These silly little buggers come around without fail at least once a year. I usually can find some minor change to make that will appease them for the moment, but with this being the first year in my entire college education that I will be returning to the same school, the ants are gettin a little crazy! What to do, what to do...I often say that it's a good thing I don't follow my impulses all of the time, because my life would look nothing short of chaotic. I know that I must stay put for now...for now. My wild fantasies of travelling around the world or up-and-moving-wherever will have to remain just that...wild fantasies. I'm going to be ignoring these ants for just a bit longer, and then hopefully someday I'll have the freedom to indulge them to my crazy heart's content.

In the meantime, here are some things that have inspired me lately...

todaysletters.com

This couple has been married for five years and the wife writes a daily

letter, addressing various people/things that have impacted her day.

The best part is the 2 times she addresses her husband...they seem to enjoy

each other so much and have nailed down the aspect of love that involves

cherishing random little quirks about each other. Inspiring.

(source)

Don't even get me started...good grief. Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps.

I want to be her...no, seriously, I want to be her. So talented, so precious,

and she has massive amounts of red hair (someone I can relate to!)

Way to represent the gingers!!

"Tying My Shoes" - Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps from The Duluth Scene on Vimeo.

Your investment in health and happiness...

2009-12-10T23:36:00.002-06:00

Hello dears!! Yes, it is Christmas-time and it seems strange that I would write about anything other than that, but it seems too good to even write about. Let me promise you that I am enjoying it immensely - it has always been my favorite time of year!

Now, on to the goods. I am a seasonal "cash register girl" at our wonderful Teavana store. I get to work with a couple of my closest friends, so I've dubbed us the Teavana Dream Team and we are legit to say the least. Although my first love will ALWAYS be coffee, these people have convinced me over the past couple years that tea can be pretty dang great. Here are some of the things I have been loving and that you should go out and grab asap.
This is a white tea called Youthberry that is literally the stuff. It's great iced, which doesn't work so well with my frigid nature, but it's worth the shivering.

White Ayurvedic Chai. Figured out today it's great with some warmed up soy milk...so cozy and delish. Nice and spicy. The Perfect Tea Maker!! This thing has made my life soo much easier. If you could ever envision yourself in the future liking tea, turn off your computer right now and go get one. It's also really fun just to watch it...why? You'll have to go buy one and find out!

As Cash Register Girl I am supposed to say "Your total investment in health and happiness today is only..." and while I could've been a punk about it I decided just to embrace it and start doing this right from the beginning. I've been made fun of a couple times, but it's all good and pretty entertaining to watch customers roll their eyes at me. It's all in the holiday spirit, guys.

Hope everyone is watching plenty of classic Christmas movies, listening to Delilah play Christmas music on the radio 24/7 and bein cozy.

.ginger.

p.s. I helped today with a group of women at church who are throwing a Christmas Cookie Party for single-parent families in the area and my part was to bake 6 dozen cookies. It was fun, but I would be happy to not look at another cookie or brownie for a good month or so...

Finding Fellow Foodies

2009-11-14T19:18:00.003-06:00

With my newest obsession of foodie blogs, I am quickly discovering that I am not alone in my love of all concoctions involving oatmeal! My favorite blogger KERF has an entire section of her blog entitled "Tribute to Oatmeal" and this is where I discovered these ridiculous oatmeal pancakes.

1/4 c. oats

1/4 c. egg whites (or 1 egg)

1/2 tsp baking powder

Cinnamon

1 Tbsp Flax Meal (optional)

1/2 mashed banana (or applesauce, or pumpkin, etc.)

Mix it all together, let it sit while the pan heats and then pour into pan.

They brown quickly and then you cover them with whatever your heart desires. The pictures have sliced banana & toasted walnuts/sunflower seeds. Delish!!

Go try it. You won't regret it for a second.

p.s. Kath from the aforementioned KERF opened my eyes to the fact that you can actually "toast" nuts in the microwave! 1.5 minutes in the microwave and they'll come out piping hot, sizzling, and smelling wonderful. It sounds questionable, but just give it a try, trust me.

Say What?

2009-10-25T23:32:00.003-05:00

[source]

It's full-on fall, my friends! And as is customary at this time of the year, I have donned my Ukrainian winter goat socks and retreated to the warmth of my kitchen where I have been cooking and baking much more than necessary. Acorn squash, pumpkin cookies, and now my newest marvel which I am here to share with you today:

Black Bean Brownies

What??? I know...craazzzy. I thought so when I first heard about it.

We did a test run a couple days ago and then I took it a bit further

in my boredom today, so try it out! You will die of shock/deliciousness:

1 box brownie mix (today's was Duncan Hines Ultimate Fudge)

1 TBS Cocoa Powder

1 tsp Cinnamon *Or add coffee! Both do wonders to enhance the chocolatiness*

1 can pureed black beans

1/4 cup mini marshmallows

Mix it all together, toss it in the oven and bake it until you can't wait any longer!

The best part is giving it to people and then waiting until they've devoured it to tell them your secret ingredient! I had a field day with it.

Enjoy!

i took a trip on a train and i thought about you

2009-09-30T22:59:00.007-05:00

happy autumn! i've spent the past 2 weekends (going on 3) out of town and have had hardly enough time to catch my breath much less contribute to this little blog of mine; however, before i head off to austin tomorrow (ACL here i come!!) i thought i'd leave a minor update.

here's a quick trip through the scattered mind of this ginger and the things that have been catching my eye:

..great little closet transformed into built-ins..

..our house is in a madmen rut and we find ourselves constantly
discussing how adorable betty draper is..

..vintage globes..

..i've been scheming up ways to refurbish a $1 headboard i bought at goodwill and

i love what this blogger did with just a pallet and old door..

[one, two, three, four, five]

When the moon hits your eye...

2009-09-14T23:19:00.003-05:00

Whenever I think of spaghetti my mind immediately goes to an image of an infamous couple of dogs eating the same romantic little noodle...I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. With my new favorite vegetable, the horror music that your brain automatically plays at the thought of pasta can be put on mute. Now we can have our spaghetti and eat it too!

Let me introduce you to my newest obsession:

Spaghetti Squash!

I picked this mysterious vegetable at the farmer's market last weekend and finally brought myself to make something out of it tonight. I roasted it for 45 minutes and was ecstatic when it turned into exactly what everyone said it would - strands of squash that look just like pasta! The great thing about it is that it has a pretty neutral flavor, so that makes it a good palate for all kinds of delish pasta sauce. I had a bounty of basil and onions I needed to use up, so I simmered a homemade spicy (cue the jalapeno) marinara sauce for a couple hours and put it on top of my "noodles". SO GOOD! Any and everyone who reads this must try it. I can't wait to make it again.

I feel it...

2009-08-30T15:42:00.004-05:00

It's coming!! Can you feel it?

Fall is almost here, people. Although the weather has been wavering between glorious and nasty for the past few days, i have tasted the first of the fall weather and it has gotten me all excited inside!

I'm ready for knit caps, leaves changing color, and being able to drink tea and coffee without breaking into a sweat ;]

I want to ride my [imaginary] bike through the adorable neighborhoods of Nashville, eat dinner on the patio without the accompaniment of bugs and just marvel in the beauty that is autumn.

Now who's with me?

My Dear Octopus

2009-08-29T02:18:00.003-05:00

Dodie Smith, author of the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians (yes, it is a novel) once referred to family as "that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to."

Today has been a day of bittersweet appreciation of my dear octopus.
I feel fortunate to be able to say that I genuinely like my family. To love one's family is generally expected and required, but to like them...that's something special. After years of simply putting up with the various tentacles that make up my family, things have shifted. They are my friends. Wierd? Lame? I won't accept the assignment of such adjectives to this emotion. I am too busy being thankful that I have been blessed with a family who I am [almost] always sad to part from.
Speaking of parting, the reason I'm writing this is because my amazing younger brother moved to Los Angeles today to pursue his dreams. Good for him! I would never want anything less for him than the whole-hearted pursuit of his passions. However, selfish as it may be, I want that tentacle back! First the sister moves to Atlanta, then the brother moves to LA (taking the parents with him for the time being) and all of a sudden I am left alone. You cannot be an octopus if you are one lone tentacle! Has anyone ever seen such an octopus?! Never! So come back all of you...okay, but don't. Keep roaming and searching and living life to its fullest because I have and will be doing the same, and you wouldn't bring me back either, no matter how much we wish we could all be together.

Like your families. Cherish them. They're God-given and in your life for some reason, regardless of how crazy they are or how crazy they drive you at times.

I leave you guys with a memory from our childhood. One that surely none of you will understand, but this memory has been worth so much to me lately. Big Elephants. A game that we made up that consisted of starting out on opposite sides of the room and stomping toward one another until we collided, landing in a big noisy heap on the ground. Does it get any better than Big Elephants? As we say in our family, "No way, Jose."

I love you, my dear octopus!!

Ooh la la!

2009-08-20T11:20:00.003-05:00

Hello there!

This ginger has had many adventures lately-from just down the street to a little bit farther. I'm almost completely moved into the new house! It's a cute house, but not yet a home...I keep having fitful nights of sleep imagining that either bugs are swarming it or (my personal favorite) homeless men are living underneath the house. It'll take time, but I'm enjoying it so far.

My brother and I recently took a road trip down to Atlanta to visit my sister and her husband. More pictures and details of that adventure later.

As a reward for my diligence in running lately, my lovely achilles tendonitis has flared back up (oh I missed it so!). It first showed up while I was dancing en pointe in high school and went away after a bit of time. I feel lazy since I can't run...I really hope it disappears soon. If anybody has any cures for my ailment, share the good news! I would love it.

Finally one of my favorite bloggers Elise, (the adorable author of the pennyweight blog) has launched a vintage store online that you absolutely MUST check out! It's called Troubadour Vintage and she has been diligently seeking out the most charming vintage clothing and accessories out there so that she can provide them for us at amazing prices!

Here are some of my favorites:

Don't even get me started on these boxer-style shorts.

They're adorable! Where else will you find such charming shorts? Seeing as how I'm drawn to everything yellow lately, these yellow

wedges are right up my alley.

Despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of pink, I cannot help myself with this

precious pink and white plaid dress.

This green high-waisted skirt is chic yet daring. Love it!

Okay, so those are my favorites...for now. On that note, GO. BUY. ENJOY!

20 days of summer

2009-08-09T20:50:00.005-05:00

10 things inspiring my happiness during my remaining days of summer...

the new anthropologie and free people catalogs which arrived in my mailbox just radiating their loveliness
wandering aimlessly - by foot, in my car, with friends, alone, in silence, with musical accompaniment
my mom admitting to secretly disliking the song "jesus loves me" - she claims it's too repetitive! :)
getting mail...in the mailbox...yes, that kind of mail.
npr - little known fact: i love listening to npr!
planning trips to visit my sister in atlanta - most importantly, the fact that we planned to go running; first thing we've planned that doesn't have to do with eating or shopping! this is a big step for us.
early mornings
the lovely sounds of French musicians Camille and Carla Bruni
julie & julia - quite cute, but mostly it just made me want to go home and cook.
planning & preparing for the oakland house - except moving couches in the gross humidity of august! not a fun time.

hope you all are enjoying what is left of summer!

the ginger

easy like {saturday} mornin...

2009-07-31T22:42:00.005-05:00

although i delight in all things spontaneous and adventurous, i must admit i am simultaneously very much a creature of habit.
i love having my morning oatmeal, my mid-morning workout,
and my nightly in-bed reading. but my most recently established
routine is my saturday morning:

i roll out of bed and head to yoga class, making it back home
just in time to watch A&E's "Flip This House"
(with a cup of coffee and my beloved oatmeal, of course).
this is what i'm eagerly anticipating as i head to bed on this friday night.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22592976@N06/

courtney's morning oatmeal
1/2 cup uncooked oats
1 cup water
1 TBS flaxseed meal
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

put the above ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and nuke for 2 1/2 minutes.
top with 1/2 sliced banana and berries of choice (right now, it's "basketball-sized" blueberries)

i hope you all have a lovely saturday, with your own favorite routines (or lack thereof).

a few things...

2009-07-27T17:47:00.003-05:00

one of several videos by choreographer kate jablonski that i have been enjoying immensely this past week. she choreographs beautiful dances to sigur ros, imogen heap, kate nash, etc. this one is just precious! makes me so happy to be a dancer. enjoy. :)

working at a book review company and editing reviews all day, i have accumulated a huge list of books i want to read, and here are two that i want to get started on as soon as i finish my current book.

i saw the movie made after this book, and thought it was great!

i'm even more excited about reading the book. :)

"What's goin on? what's goin on"

2009-07-21T17:30:00.005-05:00

hello my dears!

it has been too long since my last post - i've been working, applying for other jobs, learning more about chemistry than i would like - but is apparently necessary for a nutritionist - and trying to spend time with friends and family.

the only progress that has been made on the house are the electricity and water bills that have come in the mail. oh well. it'll come together soon enough...right?

the highlight of the past week was my sister's 22nd birthday. she was willing to part from her sweet husband for the day to come up from atlanta and join our family in celebrating her life so far! (i have to admit i liked shopping for her presents almost as much as i liked the celebration...not quite, but almost). after a great deal of wandering around the entire nashville area (and surrounding cities) i decided to get our new tea fanatic some loose leaf tea, and some cedar planks for grilling on (she's always making superb dinners for husband). i had way too much fun wrapping them, adding on some sweet cinnamon sticks i picked up from a garden shop while i was wandering. she's such a blessing in my life and i wish i could see her and celebrate her more often - happy birthday sis!

"blinded by the light"

2009-07-12T22:47:00.004-05:00

If I were to show you a snapshot of me over the past two hours, you would see me sitting in the middle of my floor surrounded by and struggling with wires galore and mason jars. I want to hang mason jar lighting from my ceiling, but after exploring the option of lightbulbs, I decided to go for a more electricity-bill-friendly idea, filling the jars with anything from candles to the beautiful dried bouquet i saved from my best friend's wedding. But that result seems far off at this point - although I have finished wiring my jars, I now have to install the ceiling hooks *cue ominous, dread-inspiring music*. I can't wait to show you guys the final effect, but until then here are some variations of what I'd like to end up with:

an inspiring lighting display found by apartment therapy at (where else?) anthropologie

a diy project featured on design*sponge

i hope all of you had a relaxing weekend! now bring on that manic monday...

Here it comes...

2009-07-11T19:38:00.004-05:00

Okay...ready, aim, fire. I give you permission to dub me whatever you want: nerdy, childish, obsessive, etc. I will gladly take the flack for my love for Harry Potter any day! I have been a faithful Harry Potter lover since the first book came out, and have just as faithfully followed the movies. The 6th movie - "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" - is coming out in just 4 short days and I am oh so excited!

I can't help but be amazed at how lovely and grown-up they all are now! I feel like I grew up right along with them. So scroll right past this entry, if you must, or just give in and enjoy these pics of Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Daniel Radcliffe, all grown up.

*On another note, we signed on the house today! Stay tuned for pictures of our new abode!*

Surely...

2009-07-09T22:42:00.003-05:00

Surely I was not meant to be born an American. These women make me impossibly jealous.

cate blanchett

marion cotillard

juliette binoche

penelope cruz in vicky cristina barcelona

Damsel in Distress

2009-07-08T16:05:00.003-05:00

Check it out!
In preparation for moving into the house, I’ve been on the lookout for nightstands, bookshelfs, chairs, etc. I was planning on leaving behind the nightstand that I use at my parent’s house, but decided instead I would paint and distress it to fit my new room!
I read up on how to distress furniture beforehand and then went to town!
Turns out that banging on furniture with hammers and socks full of nails & screws is therapeutic in its own way!
Here it is before…

Three days later, after some trips to home depot, anthropologie - for the knobs, which I love - (and a side-stop to whole foods for some kombuccha) here is the finished project:

Keep a lookout for pictures of it in its new home!

Wing Tip the Spick

2009-07-07T22:06:00.014-05:00

"She has a gift. It is her eyes. They are so blue,

such a clear light blue, the same as cornflowers

with blue raindrops shining and dancing on silver leaves

after a sun shower in any of the summer months."

-Carl Sandburg, from "How They Bring Back the Village of Cream Puffs When the Wind Blows It Away"

For the first time all summer I am actually enjoying one of my summer courses! For American Lit I'm doing a project on author Carl Sandburg and I stumbled upon his collection of Children's fairytales with an American spin. They are such darling stories! From Wing Tip the Spick who lives in the "Village of Cream Puffs" to a story about "How to Tell Corn Fairies If You See 'Em," I found myself having just as much fun reading them now as I would have fifteen years ago. Look for it next time you're in an old bookstore and hang onto it to read to your kids - or yourself for that matter!

On another note, now that I have had to swallow the payments for setting up both electric and water at our house (yikes...) it seems almost impossible that i will ever be able to comfortably afford these lovelies i've been eyeing:

i adore this one-shoulder dress from americanapparel

Lovemely has a great deal more where this came from!

Away We Went

2009-07-04T15:55:00.004-05:00

I recently returned from a delightful week in California that I absolutely must document…it was a week of relaxing, swimming, laughing, and loving (among other things).

Highlights of the adventure:

>My mom’s entire side of the family (consisting of 30+ people ranging from ages 3-70) crowded into a fabulously dysfunctional little vacation home in the gorgeous Lake Shasta area.
>Early morning coffee and breakfast on the deck
>Reading for hours
>Attempted wakeboarding, tubing and jetskiing,
>Nightly games, from the most raucus game of Bingo you’ve ever experienced to Scrabble tournaments that seriously made me question whether I loved my own mother or not. (Let’s not even talk about the 3-day ping pong tournament that included two separate brackets: winner’s and consolation brackets)
>Enough fresh California fruit to fill me up for the entire week. I couldn’t get enough!

I was sorry to leave, but so grateful that I have such an easily loveable family. Spending this past week with them blessed me so much and I doubt I could be more thankful for each and every one of them.

Oh how I would like...

2009-07-03T22:15:00.002-05:00

July 10th will mark the day that my adorable roommates and I will be the official tenants of our precious home! I’ve been focusing on finding inexpensive furnishings or recycling old ones, but here are some items I wish I could splurge on:

thank you, urban outfitters if you wish to see the genius that inspired my love for this bed...

check it out

(page 20-21)

this stovetop espresso maker would provide such a lovely morning wakeup